Attachment for telephones



(NoModeL) 4 T. 0. BRADFORD.

ATTACHMENT FOR TBLEPHONES. I N0. 366,994. 7 Patented July 19, 1887'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. BRADFORD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ATTACHMENT FOR TELEPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,994, dated July 19,1887.

Application filed April 16, 1887. Serial No. 234,997. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, THOMAS C. BRADFORD, of Cincinnati, county ofHamilton, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Attachments for Telephones, of which the following is aspecification.

The several features of my invention and the advantages arising fromtheir use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the followingdescription.

In the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a central section of my device. Fig. 2 shows in elevation my deviceattached to a telephone. Fig. 8 is a central section of thedevice asshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the device attached to atelephone and telcscoped down, as set forth in the specification. Fig. 5is a central section of the device as shown in Fig. 4.

The attachment is made of a single piece of elastic material, preferablyof rubber. When detached from the telephone, the attachment is seen toconsist of a contracted portion or curtain, A, preferably cylindrical,or nearly so,

in shape, and a flaring portion, B. At the junctions of the portionsAand B the material is thickened by the presence of'a bead or ring,

C, on the inside. The free edge of the flaring portion B is stiffened bya cushion'ring, 1), preferably rather broad. The web connecting the beadC and .ring D is designated by the letter b. A bead, E, may also be usedto strengthen the free edge of the curtain A, but is not essential.

In applying the device to a telephone the cylindricalportion isstretched over the head I F of the telephone, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

tachment securely in position.

The bead C rests on the top of the head F, forming a contraction at thebase of the portion B, while the free edge of the curtain A contractsunder the head F and holds the at- The web 1) takes a decided concaveshape, as shown in Fig.2. In use the ring D completely surrounds the earand fits snugly against the head, any

inequalities being accommodated by the flexible web Z. When sufficientpressure is made against the ring D, it is forced down and outside ofthe bead C, while the web I) folds up between the two beads. In thisfolding the web 1) forms a continuous smooth fold,-which does not at allinterfere with the proper functions of the device.

The flexibility of the web b permits the ring D to fit snugly to thehead, whether the tele phone be applied directly in front of the ear orslightly to one side. With the telephone to the ear, movements of thehead may be made without affecting the snug fitting of the ring D,because of the flexibility of the web I).

1 do not claim, broadly, to be the inventor of an ear-piece fortelephones having aflaring portion, a web adapted to fit over the headof a telephone, and a bead or shoulder, as at C, against which the headof the telephone may be made to bear, but limit myself to the inventionsset forth in the claims hereof.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an ear attachment for telephones, in combination with a curtain,the flaring por tion B, provided with cushion-ring D, andstiffening-beads C, with intermediate flexible web, I), substantially asand for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of curtain A,fiaring pou tion B, provided withcushion ring or bead D and web b, and bead C at junction of portion Band curtain A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of curtain A, provided with head E, flaring portionB, provided with cushion ring or bead D and web I), and bead C atjunction of portion B and curtain A, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

THOMAS C. BRADFORD.

Attest: A. L. HERRLINGER,

W. P. GULIOK.

